General IT Careers Information

About half of the people with IT jobs have graduated from University. Others have started in IT work after taking a computing course such as an HND or HNC. And then there are organisations such as Microsoft, Novell and Oracle, all of which offer training courses in their own software. The good news is that there is a huge demand for people to work in computing.

At school you might consider doing a GCSE in computer studies. At college there are often a range of courses available. These can include Computing A levels, BTEC National Diplomas/Certificates in Information Technology or Computer studies, or a GNVQ in Information Technology. Look at the prospectuses of your local colleges to see what courses they are offering.

There are many different degree and Higher National Diploma courses in Computing. You will need to decide whether you want a course that is mostly practically based or one that is more theoretical. Degree courses require a minimum of two A levels, BTEC National, or Advanced GNVQ. The more technical computing degrees may require you to have math's/science A levels. HND courses require one A level, an Advanced GNVQ or a BTEC National.

Website Designers

Website designers need to create sites that are fast loading, informative and great looking. Once sites have been created the designer may still have a role in developing the site further and updating it. Web designers work as part of a team, often including computer programmers, and so it is important that they can communicate well with others.

Qualifications: The main qualification available for webmasters is the CIW = Certified Internet Webmaster - the industry standard for internet certifications.

Created by Prosoft this Certification is recognized by the Association of Internet Professionals (AIP) and endorsed by the International Webmasters Association (IWA). It has been made available in Europe through the Internet Certification Institute International (ICII) and more information can be found at:- http://www.ciwcertified.com/.

Knowledge/Training Needed:
Web designers need to know how pages and their graphics are created and will need knowledge of at least some of the following:

• HTML.
• Web Editors like Dreamweaver, FrontPage, Go Live.
• Graphic Design Programmes like Photoshop, Illustrator, Paint Shop Pro.
• Programmes to create interactivity like Shockwave and Flash.
• Computer Languages used to create interactivity, like Java and Javascript.

Personal Qualities:
Web Designers need to be able to work under pressure. They should be able to work well as part of a team and be able to communicate effectively. Since the internet is a field where new developments are constantly taking place, web designers need to be able to keep up to date with all the changes. They obviously also need a flair for good design!

Job Plus Points
It's creative!
There are always new challenges.
There's no shortage of positions available.
There are always new things to learn.
It's generally well-paid (starting salary - £20,000 - £25,000)

Job Negative Points
Can be high pressure.
Can involve some routine work - e.g. html coding.

Useful Organisations for More Information:

Useful Publications (available in local reference libraries):

Inside Careers - The IT Profession 2000 Career Guide.
Price (UK): £16.50 or Freely available on-line: www.insidecareers.co.uk/it

Degree Course Guide in Computer Science
CRAC price £4.99

Working in Computing
COIC price £2.65

AGCAS booklet for graduates on Computing and Information Technology
CSU, Crawford House, Precinct Centre, Manchester M13 9EP Tel 0161 273 4233.